Line securing device



Sept. 27, 1938. 11. BEHNKE 2,131,162

LINE sncunme DEVICE Filed 001:.- 3, 1936 M it's/712 0 9 3- Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFncr- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to line securing devices and more especially to such devices of the clothespin type.

An object of the invention is to provide a line securing device as described which possesses novel features of construction and utility.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for attachment to a line.

Another object is to provide a device of thecharacter described in which the possibility of injuring a secured article such as a garment is a minimum.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following speciflcation, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 isa side view of an embodiment of my invention;

20 Fig. 2 is a top view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l, illustrating'one mode of attach- 25 ment;

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a variation in the utility of the device; and

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a further variation in the utility of the device.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I show a line securing device or clothespin l having a head portion II and a substantially flat cap portion l2, the article preferably having a somewhat triangular shape, the edges l3 of which 35 may be rounded or curved. The article is provided with three elongated legs M, the extreme ends of which terminate in spherical or ball points l5, and have inner or contact surfaces l6 which are curved inwardly or convexed longi- 40 tudinally as at I! to provide restricted throat portions or openings thereat. The legs are provided with an outer flare l8 adjacent the outer ends thereof and an inner flare l9 adjacent the crotch, bight or head portion ll. 45 If desired the legs may be provided with side surfaces 20, which extend intothe bight and each of which'may be substantially parallel to the contact surface of one of the other legs Id. The foregoing construction is such that a line such as 50 is illustrated in Fig. 4 may be secured between the legs of the device in such a manner that two of the surfaces 20 will bear against one side of the line, and the surface IE will bear against the opposite sides of the line. That is, the inner 55 faces ll--l9 are flat and disposed perpendicular or normal to the radii of the pin bisecting said fiat faces, and the fiat faces 20 at each side in obtuse angled relation to the flat inner faces of corresponding legs. Thus, the nearest or innermost of the faces 20 of the legs opposite eachfiat face l'|-l9 are parallel-to the latter faces, but so'disposed'as to cause a kink or bend in the line frictionally held therebetween, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, so as to more eiiectively grip the line. In Fig. 5 I show the device used in a somewhat different-manner such as the securing of the end of a guy rope secured to a stake 2|, the guy rope 22 being passed around the stake 2|,- the end 23 of the rope being twisted around one of the legs I and being clamped between it and the other two legs. I

A clothesline 24 is shown in Fig. 4 and an article 25 secured thereto by the clothespin l0, it

being clear from thisfigure that the line 24 is.

bent or crimped by the action of the pin when secured thereto. The resiliency of the legs M together with the mutually opposing curved surfaces I! is such that when a pin is attached to a line the legs will spread a suflicient amount to securely clamp the line, and contact surfaces l6 will be substantially parallel as indicated by the dotted position of one of the legs l4 inFig. 3.

Thus the line may be secured at any point along the surfaces l6, ll, or 19 and there will be no likelihood of the pin splitting or the breaking off of-one of the legs such as frequently occurs with the ordinary type of pin.

In Fig. 6 I show a modified form of my invention used to secure a curtain cord such as used for raising and securing Venetian blinds. A window frame 26 is shown having a lower sash 21, an inner side casing 28, stool 29, apron 30, and side stop 3|. A line securing device 32 constructed according to my invention in the form of a bracket is secured to stop 3|, and a shade cord 33 secured thereto by any of a variety of hitches in conjunction with the gripping action of the resilient legs l4.

It will be apparent that the device as described may in its usual form be constructed of wood. However, I do not wish to be limited to such material as it should be obvious that the pin may be constructed of other materials, for instance, Bakelite, wire, or otherwise.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my in- -vention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing rom the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish be limited to the precise details of construction set forth. but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention. what I ciaimasnewanddesiretosecurebyletters Patent is:

1. A line securing device as described having a general triangular contour and a central bore and radial recesses merging therewith, whereby to define three legs, said legs each having its inner face flattened and the faces oneach side thereof extending in obtuse angled relation also flattened, the inner flattened face of each leg being-disposed substantially parallel to the last mentioned fiat faces of the legs opposite thereto.

2. A clothespin comprising a body having a head portion and a central end bore and radial recesses merging therewith whereby to define three legs, the inner faces of each leg being flat and disposed normal to the radii of the pinbisecting said faces. and the legs on eachside ,of said flat faces being beveled and flat adv-that said faces opposing each flat inner face are substantially parallel therewith to frictionally grip a line and cause a kink therein.

3. A clothespin comprising a body having a head portion and a central end here and radial recesses merging therewith whereby to define their intermediate portions to form restricted v throat portions thereat and adaptedj to flex outwardly in substantially parallel relation and flaring outwardly toward their free endsflj 4. A clothespin comprising a body having a head portion and a central end bore and radial recesses merging therewith whereby to define three legs, the inner faces of each leg being flat and disposed normal to the radii of the pin bisecting said faces, and the legs on each side of said flat faces being beveled and flat so that said faces opposing each flat inner face are substantially parallel therewith to frictionally grip a line and cause a kink therein, the inner faces of said legs being curved inwardly from near the bight portions and then curved outwardly toward their free ends, and enlarged ball terminals at saidfree ends.

EDWARD C. BEHNKE. 

